Correct. The 45 RPM system was announced in January of 1949, and hardware wasn't available until the following April. RCA actually startede the 45 system in 1939, and had it pretty well ready for production during the war, but couldn't do anything with it then. After the war, Sarnoff said to shelf it, as shellac discs were selling well. In 1948, Goldmark announced the Columbia LP, and Sarnoff lambasted his guys for letting Columbia get the jump on RCA. He ordered the 45 into production at that time. > [Original Message] > From: Robert Wright <esroberto at hotmail.com> > To: Antique Phonograph List <phono-l at oldcrank.org> > Date: 12/26/2006 11:12:09 PM > Subject: [Phono-L] 45rpm players from the late 30's?? > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: "Rich" <rich-mail at octoxol.com> > To: "Antique Phonograph List" <phono-l at oldcrank.org> > Sent: Tuesday, December 26, 2006 5:49 PM > Subject: Re: [Phono-L] Yahoo's Electrola group > > > > That works also. Or "NO PLASTIC CASE" equipment. Some of the 45 rpm > > dates from the late 30s. > ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------------------------ > > All of the information I've ever seen says it was introduced in 1949 as an > answer to Columbia's LP format. Could someone elaborate a bit on this? > > Quotes from Keith Wright's article on 45's from CAPS 2004 APN > (http://www.capsnews.org/apn2004-1.htm): > > "The 45 rpm speed was the only one to be decided by a precise optimisation > procedure (by RCA Victor in 1948)." > > "The date generally cited for launch of the RCA 45 is March 31, 1949. Some > cite an earlier date, but prior to this the RCA Distributor's Record > Bulletins had only records with number starting with 20, 21 and 22. They > were all 78s! There were no 45s available for some weeks yet!" > > ...and a caption from one of the photos reads: > "9-EY-3 table phonograph - one of the original 1949 RCA players" > > Thanks, > Robert > > > _______________________________________________ > Phono-L mailing list > Phono-L at oldcrank.org > > Phono-L Archive > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org/archive/ > > Phono-L RSS Feed > http://phono-l.oldcrank.org/feed/index.rss > > Support Phono-L > http://www.cafepress.com/oldcrank